I Corinthians 1

This was Paul’s problem church. BUT THEY WERE A CHURCH!!! …

“TO THE CHURCH of God which is at Corinth," - Paul considered them a CHURCH! (1:2).

Notice all the past-tense verbs indicating their initial status as a church.

Grace was given to them

They were enriched in Him, in ALL speech and knowledge

The testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in them

THEY WERE NOT LACKING IN ANY GIFT!!

They WERE a spiritually RICH church!! (1:4-7)

But beginning in verse 10 we learn that they were NOT getting along! Quarrels and divisions! And of course the root of those actions is pride and selfishness. These things have been the downfall of the church for the past two thousand years—creating denominations and other ways of “I’m right and you’re wrong”—types of thinking among believers. Today we consider these things normal and totally ignore how they have had a negative testimony to the world.

We don’t “BOAST IN THE LORD (1:31)” any more. We boast of our little groups or our mighty denominations and how we have it all figured out and how “if you don’t get on our bandwagon you can’t go to heaven.” Yes, I Corinthians is a great study for the church today in order to become more aware of our sin and get back to the basics of life and unity in Christ! Remember what He prayed in John 17:20-21? “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; … so that the world may believe that You sent Me!” We’ve got a long way to go!